FIRST “LIBERTY SHIP”

Evening Star, Issue 24002, 29 September 1941, Page 7

FIRST “LIBERTY SHIP”

INCLUDED IN AMERICAN LAUNCHINGS PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S OUTLINE OF PROGRAMME WASHINGTON, September 27. President Roosevelt, in a broadcast on Liberty Fleet Day, on the occasion of tho launching of 14 of the 312 new emergency type cargo ships, said: “ This is a memorable day in the history of American shipbuilding and a memorable day in tho emergency defence of the nation. To-day from dawn to dusk 14 ships arc being launched on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and among them is the first ‘ liberty ship,’ the Patrick Henry. “ While we are proud of what w’o are doing,” Mr Doosevclt said, “ this is no time to be content. We must build more and still more cargo ships. Wc must speed up until wc achieve one launching daily, then two ships daily. Our shipbuilding programme, both mercantile and naval, is one of onr answers to the aggressors who would strike at our liberty. “ Shipworkers of America are doing a great job.” the President said. “ They are striking a telling blow at tho menace to our nation and to the liberty of free peoples. They struck 14 such blows to-day. They have caught the true spirit with which all this nation must be imbued if Hitler is to be prevented from crushing us. “ We Americans as a whole cannot listen to those few Americans,” he said, “ who preach the gospel of fear, who say in effect that they are still in favour of” the freedom of the seas, but who would have the United States tie up our ships. That attitude is neither truthful nor honest. Wo propose that these ships shall sail tho seas, and to the best of our ability we shall protect them from torpedo, from shell, and from bomb. “The Patrick Henry, as one of the liberty ships launched to-dav, renews,” Mr Doosevclt said, “ that _ groat patriot’s stirring demand to ‘ give mo liberty or give mo death.’ There shall bo no death for America, for democracy or for freedom. There must be liberty world-wide and eternal. That is ,our prayer and our pledge to all mankind.” MESSAGE FROM WAR MINISTER (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Sept. 27. Tho Minister of War Transport, Colonel Moore-Brabazon, to-day sent the following message to tho chairman of tho Maritime Commission bn the occasion of the celebration in the United States of Liberty Fleet Day:—“ Liberty Fleet Day symbolises for ns and our Allies tho cause for which we are fighting. Only by tho freedom' of the seas can tho freedom of the world be secured, and it will indeed bo an auspicious day which secs the launching from your yards of 12 United States and two British vessels.”

BIG CONTRACTS AHEAD AIRCRAFT ALSO OH THE WAY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Sept. 27. An indication of the magnitude of the United States shipbuilding programme, the succ'ess of which will have so important an effect not only on the battle of the Atlantic, but on the whole war, is given by the newspaper ‘ Los Angeles Times,’ which says that 947 vessels of 5.851.000 tons arc now on order—treble tho number on order a year ago. The current programme already totalled two-thirds of the American merchant marine now afloat, and contracts anticipated shortly would bring the now construction to over 1,300 ships. Regarding American aircraft production, a Wall street journal states that two years from now the American aircraft engine industry would be turning out power plants to keep 65,000 American and British warplanes flying and put 4,000 new planes per month in the air. This meant 14,000 plane engines per month capable of developing 16,000,000 horsepower. By July of next year production should be in excess of 8.000 engines and better than 8,700,000 horsepower per month.

INCREASED PRODUCTION URGED (Rec. 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON. Sept. 28. Broadcasting as a preliminary to the occasion, Admiral Land said merican shipyards must further increase production to offset tho sli of freighters and hasten the defeat of the aggressors.

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION PUPPET PREMIER OF SLOVAKIA JERUSALEM, (Ree. 9.25 a.m.) Sept. 28. Authoritative Czecho-Slovak circles in Jerusalem report that an officer of the Slovak army unsuccessfully attempted to kill Dr Tuka, the puppet Premier of Slovakia. The officer was arrested. MR DUFF COOPER JAPANESE PAPER DEMANDS RECALL TOKI.O, September 28. The 1 Japan Times and Advertiser ’ has demanded Mr Duff Cooper’s recall from the Far East. It alleged that bo exceeded all Instructions by irritating instead of composing Far Eastern peoples. The British Government would be well advised if it sharply curtailed his utterances and manoeuvres. He was parading as a firebrand. LORD HALIFAX THE CALL AT LISBON (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. September 27. Lord Halifax, who is on his way back to Washington to resume bis duties, was received to-day by Dr Salazar, the Portuguese Prime Minister. Sir Samuel Hoare. British Ambassador in Spain, left Lisbon for London, where lie has now arrived. Before leaving Lisbon he bud an interview with Dr Salazar in the presence of the British Ambassador to Portugal, Sir Walford Selby.